Pressure relief garter



1932- c. A. STEVENSON PRESSURE RELIEF GARTER Filed Oct; 25, 1928 Egg-5- Mn 0 5 mv v n 5 D Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UIED s 1. 1

orrics PRESSURE RELIEF GAIRTEB Application filed October 25, 1928. Serial No. 314,989.

This invention relates to improvements in garters of either a single or plural clasp type, adapted particularly for relieving pressure on the saphenous vein oi: the leg.

A prime object of this invention is to provide a pressure relief garter which may be applied to the leg without obstructing the return flow of blood through the veins thereof, particularly through the vein technically known as the internal or long saphenous vein. Which begins near the ankle. The garter, according to this invention, bridges the vein under discussion and entirely relieves it from pressure so that there is no restriction of the blood stream. Furthermore, the device is simple and inexpensive of manufacture.

Other obj ectsot this invention will appear from the following detailed description of the device and as disclosed in the single sheet of drawings which is herewith made a part of this application.

In the drawings- Figure 1 discloses a side elevational View of a portion of a leg with the pressure relief garter, according to this invention, applied thereto for the purpose of supporting a stocking and at the same time exerting no pressure on the saphenous vein.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the pressure relief garter construction having a plurality of double clasp members and disclosing particularly the bridge member connected with the garter.

Figure 3 represents a plan view of the pressure relief garter in operative relationship upon a leg and showing the bridge member in spaced relationship to the saphenous vein.

Figure 4 represents a sectional view of Figure 3 taken along line 44.

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the pressure relief garter formed having a single clasp member, this being merely a modification of the invention.

In Figure 1 the garter is seen clasped on a leg in the normal position, having an elastic segment 1, anon-elastic segment 2 which is composed of parts described below, a clasp 5, and the depending fasteners 13 and 14 supporting a stocking 12. A dotted line 7 indicates the approximate course of the saphenous vein in leg 6 and it will be seen that the garter is placed with segment 2 over this part of the leg.

As seen in Figure 2, segment 2 is preterably composed of two strips of firm material,

elastic segment may have an adjusting memher 8 for varying the girth of the garter.

In the space between strips 11 and 11' enclosed by the stitching around their margins is an elongatedarch member 8 of stiiily resilient material, preferably of the form shown. Arch 8 may be held in place by various means of attachment, such as suggested at 9 and 10, or it may be held in place by running additional lines of stitching around close to its top and bottom edges, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2.

In this manner is provided a substantial non-elastic segment, a considerable lengthot which arches outwardly so as not to make contact with the leg where it passes over the saphenous vein.

In Figure 3, strips 11 and 11 are seen in section with arch 8 between them holding them out of contact with leg 6 where they pass over vein 7 The vertical section in Figure l shows strips 11 and 11' with arch 8 between them, out of contact with leg 6.

Figure 5 illustrates modification of this invention wherein the garter is constructed having a single clasp member 17 suspended from a member 18, which is adapted to be attached in some suitable manner to the main body portion 19 of the garter having the usual adjustable means 20 and attachable fasteners 21, the bridge member 22 being made of some proper material of sulficient resiliency so that when the garter is applied to the leg, the bridge 22 will be spaced from the saphenous Vein therein.

In operation this invention provides a very eliicient garter constructed in such a manner that the saphenous vein of the leg will be entirely relieved of pressure. The need for a garter of this type is very marked. The internal or long saphenous vein in the leg is very easily compressed, anything that even slightly constricts or compresses the vein, retards the return flow of the blood, thereby causing a stasis of the blood and a break down of the valves in the vein. Stasis naturally begins at the lowest point in the foot near the ankle and ascends the leg. The garters now on the market tend to compress this vein and are a cause of varicosities in the vein. A varicosity is a direct cause of chronic ulcers of the leg and other diseased conditions that a stasis of the blood in the vein would produce. The internal or long saphenous vein is the only superficial vein with branches in the leg, and the vein most commonly varicosed.

Unfortunately the garter has to pass over this vein at a point where it is a main trunk, and we have a vein with feeble power for returning blood between a tight garter and more solid structures, such as bone and muscle. This causes acompression of the vein with retarding of the blood stream and an end process of stasis.

The garter according to this invention has marked advantages over any now on the market in that it tends to bridge the vein so that it is not compressed in the slightest and no restriction of the blood stream occurs. The other veins in the leg are located at suitable distances therein and are covered and supported by muscles which make it difficult to compress any of the veins except the saphenous vein, and this invention very efficiently provides for the protection and elimination of pressure on this vein.

It will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made in the form of embodiment of this invention within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

A leg garter comprising an encircling band having a major elastic portion and a smaller inelastic portion, the latter being arranged to engage that part of the leg including the saphenous vein, an arch of stifi material bridging the inelastic portion and holding it out of contact with the leg, and a depending fastener for a stocking attached to the garter forwardly of that portion which comes over the saphenous vein when the garter is propr erly worn.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. CLYDE ALLISON STEVENSON. 

